Sep 15, 2019 - Not a good look

Windy all night, but when we woke 2 ferries had gone and another was loading. Then it took off with some difficulty. It seemed awfully close to a rock breakwater as it struggled to get the anchor up. Finally it did and away it went. Soon another arrived and the captains know their stuff. It did a U turn and backed in. The rear gangway was down and we witnessed the Greek swarm as people disembarked. 15 mins later it was loaded and away again. We breakfasted in the dining room - plenty of choice but J and C didn’t overdo it you will be...

Sep 14, 2019 - Boom! She did it again

We checked out at 10. Farewelled Yiannis and drove up to Hora to look for Elisabeth, and Andreas to say farewell. Hardly anyone about - a few men sitting with coffees and fags, gossiping. J went to go into the Council office to get some free publications - locked. Chink! (Sound of a penny dropping) public holiday - religious day of the cross so many people were in church. The bishop was here too. We walked around and found a particular souvenir shop being run by a young lady - J asked her if her name was Stathis and it was. She was Eleni...

Sep 14, 2019 - Leaving on a jet plane

Not quite a jet plane, but leaving we are. It was windy last night, but still warm. C woke early for an inspection of the plumbing. When she looked out the window there was a man with a pan, broom and torch sweeping the courtyard below! J thought this was a little over the top, given the wind. And in fact they do have jet planes here. Charter flights from the Netherlands and Switzerland come regularly. And this means a few large tour buses which don’t really fit with the road system here. More later........

Sep 13, 2019 - Nearly last hurrah

After a restful siesta we drove to Livadi to meet K2 and V for some touring. V took us first up through upper Strapodi and then via a narrow, rough road to the top of a mountain to the Church of Saint Akindini. Here we had spectacular views of Kapsali, Xitra, Hora and the castle, and many other coastal and inland panoramas in the south east of Kythera. It was windy but worth it. J probably wouldn’t have been game to drive up there. K and S would have had kittens if they had still been here! Next we went down on a slightly better road...

Sep 13, 2019 - Just help yourself in Carvounades

We were all woken last night by a power outage. How you might ask? Well, J couldn’t breath when his cpap machine stopped, and being a hotel, the room has an emergency lighting system so as soon as the power went off, a bright light went on. So we were all wide awake and took quite a while to get back to sleep. About 7:30 , J turned the TV on and scanned the stations eventually finding Antenna - and there was his 2nd cousin Panagiotis as one of the 2 anchors on the morning show. After breakfast, J rang George and Stella from Carvounades. We...

Sep 12, 2019 - One of my family names is Carwash!

Final day for K& S. We had heard about a frescoe museum at Kato Livadi, so after checkout we drove there. All the opening times on the sign had been blanked out and the door was locked. A sign saying what arrangements were in place would have been quite useful! Anyway, enquires at the school over the road comfirmed that it was closed, and you could enquire at the Archaeological Museum in Hora. So we might do that tomorrow. The back road from there to Carvounades was interesting - quite narrow and windy, but with some interesting old...

Sep 11, 2019 - Pig Face

Today was K&S’ last full day before flying out to Athens tomorrow. First up today was a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Kythera in Hora. J & C had wanted to visit here previously but for some reason never had. It is an old museum, originally with displays in wooden and glass cabinets - very old school. Then a bad earthquake damaged it badly. After many years ,money from the Kytherians in Australia kick started its revitalisation, and then money from the EU enabled a full restoration to contemporary standards. It’s a great little...

Sep 10, 2019 - Theory of Relativity

Today was planned as a shopping day in Hora. On waking, we watched a multi million dollar motor cruiser glide into the bay and dock. After breakfast we drove to the main car park and walked down the steps to the bottom of the Platia. After posting some cards we spent a bit of time looking at tee shirts and other bits and pieces of a tourist variety, then made our way down where we saw Andreas- he said he would give us fresh figs down at the church, and said he would have more tonight. We then walked below the Platia and on down to a shop...

Sep 9, 2019 - Family

Today was a family connection day. We left at 10 and drove to Hora, parking in the large car park and walking down the steps into the square (Platia). We decided to try and find cousin Andreas first but he wasn’t in the square. Next J asked at the Council chambers whether cousin Kostas was there- the lady made a call then said “follow me” and we tripped out into the Platia. She pointed over the other side and said “he is in a meeting down there “. So we headed for the coffee shops where he was. In the mean time, an Aussie voice called out...

Sep 8, 2019 - Piranhas from Piraeus

At 6 we went for a swim. The water was calm and warm. Numerous times we were nipped by small fish that swam around us. Especially on places where we had scratches or insect bites. They must sense blood!! On the way back an elderly Greek gentleman checked K and S out, although they were oblivious! We went to tea at Kapari where we enjoyed a variety of appetisers and salads, plus a bottle of Kytherian Rose. Keftedes, taramasalata, quinoa salad, Mediterranean salad, avocados and prawns, fried cheese with pomegranate. K flirted with the waiter...

Sep 8, 2019 - Sunday morning coming down

Sunday - very quiet when we awoke. J saw a large motor yacht slip its moorings and sneak away. Then the sound of a champagne cork followed by chorus’ of Happy Birthday and 3 cheers. A car arrived out the front and a man with shotgun and ammunition belt entered a flat. J &C breakfasted on cereal, yoghurt ( thick enough to patch a plaster wall) and fruit, including a Kytherian melon ( beautiful citrus smell, green flesh) and milk. Btw, the fat content is 3.5% which is less than at home, but seems so much creamier. We met at 10:30, talked...

Sep 7, 2019 - Santorini

When the boat arrived in Santorini harbour, I was overwhelmed by the reception of both humans and animals! The donkeys descended thick and fast down some of the steepest terrain I have ever seen, rushing to meet the ferry and haul the load of tourists up the steep steps to the town perched on the rocks above. Santorini is a submerged volcano that erupted eons ago, leaving a caldera behind. Its steep rock faces are covered with whitewashed villas clinging to the rock face like vines on a brick wall. There is a tradition in Santorini of...